This Cream Cheese Pasta Bake is a spin-off of the Baked Feta Pasta that went viral on TikTok in early February 2021!
I am usually not one for trends or even trying out recipes seen on TikTok, but this one I had to try and make my own version.
I am a huge fan of feta cheese, I love it in salads and even on egg dishes too. But, my hubby isn’t too fond of feta so I made this pasta bake with cream cheese instead and it did not disappoint!
Looking for more easy pasta dishes to add to your weeknight dinner rotation? Be sure to check out my Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach Orzo , Single Skillet Spaghetti , and Marry Me Chicken Pasta !
Ingredients you will need:
With just a few simple ingredients you’ll be able to whip up this delicious weeknight meal and I know you’ll be as obsessed with it as we are!
You can scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements.
- Cherry Tomatoes : cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes work best for this recipe.
- White onion: I love the flavor that onion adds to this dish. Yellow onion works fine, too!
- Sun-dried tomatoes: adding spinach and sun-dried tomatoes gives this dish a Tuscan feel. I usually add in some of the oil from the jar that the sun-dried tomatoes are in, too, for a boost of flavor!
- Olive oil : opt for a good quality olive oil. The olive oil coats all of the ingredients and helps prevent anything from sticking to the casserole dish.
- Seasonings : garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Feel free to experiment with other seasonings, such as oregano, thyme, roasted garlic, etc.
- Cream cheese: Full-fat cream cheese is what I use, but a reduced-fat cream cheese will do the job, too!
- Fresh spinach: stir in the fresh spinach at the end. It will wilt right into the warm dish!
- Basil : to garnish
- Pasta : I used mini bow tie pasta noodles, but you can use any pasta shape you prefer! Pick your favorite shape and switch it up for fun!
Step by Step Directions
It’s really so EASY you guys. I could almost do it in my sleep! You can scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe instructions.
Pour & stir!
Add the cherry tomatoes, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into an oven-safe casserole dish. Stir to combine.
Add cream cheese block
Nestle the cream cheese block in the center of the ingredients.
Bake & stir!
Bake for ~35-40 minutes. Then stir it all together, gently smashing down the tomatoes to help create a sauce.
Add spinach & pasta!
Stir in the spinach and cooked pasta, taste and adjust seasonings, and that’s it!
Mmmmm
Garnish with fresh basil, and dig in!
- Add a protein! We love this with chicken or even chicken sausage. It would be delicious with shrimp, salmon, or tofu too!
- Use your favorite pasta shape : Linguine, bow tie, penne, spaghetti, etc. The options are endless!
- Add in more veggies: Mushrooms, bell peppers and asparagus are yummy options. Swap out the spinach with another green like kale!
- Can I make it with another type of cheese? I haven’t tested this recipe with another type of cheese but of course feta cheese is an option and I bet Boursin would be really yummy.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
Skillet Lasagna Recipe with Rotini
Italian Sausage and Peppers Pasta
Easy Shell Pasta with Ground Turkey
One-Pot Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta
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Oven Safe Baking Dish
My favorite cutting board
Have you made the viral TikTok pasta yet?
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Cream Cheese Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 20 oz. cherry tomatoes (2 pints)
- 1/2 small white onion, minced
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 oz. full-fat cream cheese
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, gently torn
- 8 oz. pasta of choice, cooked
- basil (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Pour the cherry tomatoes, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into an oven-safe casserole dish. Stir to combine. 20 oz. cherry tomatoes (2 pints), 1/2 small white onion, minced, 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, minced, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, to taste
- Nestle the cream cheese in the center. 8 oz. full-fat cream cheese
- Bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes. (Until the cheese is golden and looks like it’s about to fall apart).
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta of choice according to package directions. Drain. 8 oz. pasta of choice, cooked
- Remove the casserole dish from the oven. Smash the tomatoes down using a spoon and stir the cream cheese until it creates a sauce.
- Stir in the spinach until wilted, and then stir in cooked pasta. Taste and adjust, adding more salt or pepper as desired. 2 cups fresh baby spinach, gently torn
- Serve and garnish with basil. Enjoyyyy!! basil (optional garnish)
Video
Notes
- Storage: Allow pasta dish to cool then transfer to an air tight container. Store in fridge for 3-4 days.
- Add a protein of choice to make this a more satisfying meal! Chicken, bacon, grilled shrimp, salmon, steak, tofu, etc.
- Use any pasta shape you prefer.
- Make sure the sun dried tomatoes are mixed in the dish to prevent them from burning.
